Applicator and massage instrument



April 25, 1933-. E. M. ROBINSON 1,905,750.

APPLICATOR AND MASSAGE INSTRUMENT Filed July 6, 1931 10 mi Www lnvnor fmmemfdmon 0 0@ y 71/1'5A Zorneys Patented Apr. 25, 1933 A narran staresrare:arA 'essieu EMMET M. ROBINSON, OF MINNl'rAIPOILS;v MINNESOTAArrLIcAToB. AND Messiaen INSTRUMENT Application filed July 6',

This invention relates to applicators of the fountain or reservoir typeand particularly to an applicator and heater for massage treatments.

It is an object of my invention to provide a simple, inexpensive andhighly efficient device for distributing liquids andv semi-liquids underthe control of the operator and'for further working the liquid or othermaterial 10 eiiciently into or over a surface. The invention isespecially applicable for the distribution of materials for renderingscalp and massage treatments wherein it is desirable to work theappliedmaterial into the scalp or pores of the skin.

Another object is to provide in a device of the class described, meansassociated with the distributing head for controlling the dispensing ordelivery of the material whereby a rubbing or flexing of the head willpro-V duce a substantial pumping action upon the contents of the device,effecting a gradual and uniform discharge and distribution of material.v Y

Another object is to provide an applicator and massage instrumentespecially designed forscalp and'beauty parlor treatments and havingprovision for heating the oil ormaterial to be applied as well ascontrolling in a desired manner the distribution or application of thematerial.

A further object is to provide an instrument especially adapted forgiving hot oil massage treatments to the scalp wherein the V heating ofthe oil or material is carried on in a predetermined manner through thecontrol of a thermostat and where a thin liquid may be distributed andworked into the scalp or skin only during the brisk rubbing or 40massaging of the distributing head over the surface being treated.

These rand other objects and advantages of the invention will be fullyset forth in the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawing, in which 1931. serial No. 548,7?5.

likerreference characters refer to similar parts throughout the severalviews, vand in which I f F' ig. l is a top plan view of an embodiment ofmy invention; f Fig'. 2 isa side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is avertical section taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. l; Y Y

Fig. l is an enlarged section 'taken dia# metricallythrough thedistributing head 55 and showing one form of construction` forvcontrolling the discharge` or application of material;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing` the operation and function oftheapplicator when invuse upon the skin or scalp; Fig. 6 is a top plan ofthe dischargecon trolling plate detached; IF ig. 7 is a plan viewofaslightlydifferent form of discharge controlling plate; vand Fig. 8 is asection taken diametrically through a discharge head' having the secondform of discharge controlling plate applied thereto.

In the embodiment of my invention illus-y A trated the general shape ofthe device is' somewhat similar toa hair brush, having, as shown, atruncated conical distributing head 10, an elongated handle 11 anda flatback which is adapted to rest upon asupporting surface withthedistributing head in invertedv position. The body of the device;if'desired, can be in the form Vof an integral casting or stamping andmaterial, such as a metal or bakelite may be conveniently utilized. As Eshown the body is in the form of a casting and head l() is-hollow whilethe back of the handle 1l is provided with a longitudinally extendinggroove 11a lcommunicating with the hollow head and adapted toaccommodate type is housed within distributing head 10 preferably beingaffixed to the inner surface of back plate 12. As shown this heatingunit is of shallow cylindrical shape having a metal casing and providedwith a heating element 13a which may be embedded in suitable insulatingmaterial disposed within the casing of the unit. A thermostaticallyoperated switch 14 is preferably associated with the heating element andmay be mounted within the body or distributing hea-d, aihxed to the topofthe heating unit. One of the contacts ofthe thermostatic switch isconnected by a wire l5 to one end of the heating element 13a and theother contact of the thermostatic switch is connected with one of thelead wires A within electrical service cord C. The second lead wire Bconnects with'the 0pposite terminal of heating element 13a.

A conventional temperature indicator l16 may be mounted within the wallofthe body or distributing head having its inner side subjected to theheat therewithin and as shown having a graduated dial readable from theexterior of the device. Y

The reduced end or side of the body or distributing head 10 is open,terminating, as shown, in an annular externally threaded edge tofacilitate the inserton and removal of a supply container 17 which maybe lled withloil or any other` desirable liquid or semiliquid'substance.Container 17 has an open upper end defined by an inturned vflange whichis-provided'primarily for the purpose offurnishing a fingergrip tofacilitate removal of the container from the device. The inne-r end ofthe container is adapted to 'engage and rest upon the top or inner endof the eating unit 13.

Adischarge controlplate 18 Vas fshjown in the .form of an independentthin metallic disk covers the open outer end-of container 17 and hasprovigiled therein one or .morerelatively small rdischarge ports 18a.The peripheral portion of the plate is .adapted to engage and be seatedagainst 'theinturned flange of container 173 as well as, Vif desired, aportion of the annular edge of the distributing head V10.

A flexible massage-cap 19 covers the discharge controlling plate 18 aswell as the end of thel distributing head and as* shown isof dis-k formbeing constructed of some suitable flexible and elastic material, suchas rubber. This cap may have `a shallow circular recess :whereinld-iskl'is seated leaving van annular sealing flange 19a which is adapted toengage the annular edge of `the distributing head. Cap I9 isalsoprovided with a series of spaced massaging Vand distributing teats 19?)which teats k,protrude substantailly normalto the upper surface thereofand Vwhich fare preferably integrally constructed with the body of thecap; yThe cap is also provided with transverse discharge ports 190located immediately adjacent -at leastl annum-ber of the i massagingteats in such position that the liquid or other material will bedischarged upon the teats and worked to the ends thereof. If desiredthese discharge ports may be formed axially of the teats.

Massage cap 19 and discharge controlling plate 18 are held in operativeposition upon the open end of the distributing head 10 by a retainingring 20 the peripheral wall of which is threaded to engage theexternally threaded cylindrical end of the distributing head and thisring is provided an inturned flange 20ct whch engages the marginal edgeofthe flexible cap 19 serving to clamp the sealing flange 19a of the capagainst the edge of the vdistributing head.-

In the form of distributing head and discharge controlling plateillustrated in detail in Figsfl to 6 inclusive the controlling plate 18has a substantial and central portion thereof of concavo-'convexlconstruction providedwith a series, as shown three, -discha11gcapertures 18a. This concave-convex central portion normally seatstightly against the inner or bottom surface of the massage cap forming aliquid-tight yjoint therewith and preventing dripping of the liquid orother parts are normally held in close relationwith the discharge vpor-tof the controlling plate sealed. I preferably provide 4a heavy pad ofefficient heat-insulating material between theV casing of the heatingunit 13 and thegback or cove-r plate 12.

In operation the oil or other material is placed within supplyAcontainer 17 by Vremoving the threaded retaining ring 20 andwithdrawing'the container. The ldischarge controlling plate 18 `andImassage cap 19 'are then Voperatively applied over the 'outer end ofthe distributing head and clampedingplaoe.

by means of the retaining ring. The circuit through the heatin elementiis then closed by manipulation o a suitable switch (not show-n) and theliquid or other'material will then be .heated to a predeterminedtemperature (in oil scalpmtreatments usually from 149 to 17'5degrees'FJ.

The handlell ofthe device may be grasped and distributing head' turnedto normalposition withjthe massage cap directed downwardly. Theprojecting lugs ory teats 196 will then be vigorously rubbed Jover thescalp massagingthe same and producing' a flexing` of the cap asillustrated -in Fig. 5. This :flexing Aof the cap produces a `pumpingsuction.

between the inner surface of the cap and the discharge controlling platecausing small quantities of the liquid or other material to bedischarged through the ports 19o into the base portions of the teats,which material is worked down to the tips of the teats and onto thescalp by the massaging action.

Between the strokes of the massage treatment and when the device isnormally held with the distributing head directed downwardly no liquidor material will drip from the discharge ports 19o, since at that. timethe massage cap 19 is snugly seated against the discharge controllingplate and since the discharge ports 18a of the controlling plate are notin alignment with the discharge ports of the cap a flexible seal isformed for the ports 18a.

The thermostat 14 is eii'ective to maintain the liquid at apredetermined temperature and the temperature indicator 16 will show theoperator when the oil has been brought up to adequate temperature fortreatment.

The cord C may be detachably connected by a plug with the outer end ofthe handle, if desired, to enable the device to be utilized withoutcarrying the cord in giving a treatment.

The feeding or distribution of liquid or other material is very uniformdue to the cooperation between the discharge plate and my flexiblemassage cap which is usually constructed of rubber. In commercial use,as in beauty parlor work, the cap may be removed after each treatmentand sterilized to conform to sanitary requirements for barber shops andbeauty parlors.

en not in use the device may conveniently rest upon the flatbaclr plate12 which as has been stated is insulated from the heating unit 13 sothat it will not scorch a table or other support on which it rests.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided asimple and highly eliicient applicator and massage instrument capable ofbeing manufactured at low cost and especially well adapted for givinghot oil massage treatments, although capable of wide general use inapplying liquids or semiliquids for cleaning, massaging or otherdistributing purposes.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, proportions and arrangement of the parts withoutdeparting from the scope of my invention, which, generally statedconsists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forthand in the novel parts and combinations of parts disclosed and delinedin the appended claims.

What is claimed is j 1. An applicator comprising a container having anopen end a discharge controlling plate secured over said open end andprovided with a discharge port, a iiexible cap secured over saiddischarge controlling plate and having discharge ports therein disposedout of alignment with-the discharge port of said plate, saidplatehavinga` convex outer surface normally distending ,said cap andpressing against thezunderv side thereofpto close the dischargeports ofsaid cap whereby Y when said cap is'rubbed against a surface tobetreated portionsthereof will bespaced from said plate producing apumping action on the material within said container.

2. The struc-ture set forth claim 1, wherein said cap is constructed ofstretchable material such as rubber and is provided with projections orteats supplied with material by said discharge ports.

3. In an applicator, a hollow open ended head, a container in the openend of said head and having an open end adaptedto be disposed atleastflush with the open end of said head, a cap constructed of compressiblematerial disposed over the open ends of said head and said container andhaving discharge ports extending therethrough and a detachable retainingring engaging the end of said head and having aiiange for pressing themarginal edge of said cap against the open ends of said head andcontainer to form a liquid-tight seal. Y

4. An applicator comprising a container having an open end, a dischargecontrolling element secured over said open end and provided with adischarge aperture and a flexible cap secured over said dischargecontrolling element and having a series of projections and dischargeports for supplying material to said projections, the apertured portionof said discharge controlling element being normally disposed iiushagainst an imperforate portion of said cap to close said aperturewhereby when said cap is iiexed by rubbing the same against a surface,portions of said cap will be spaced from said discharge controllingelementto permit discharge of material from the device.

5. An applicator comprising a container having an open end, a dischargecontrolling element secured over said open end and provided with aplurality of discharge apertures and a flexible cap secured over saiddischarge controlling element and having a series of projections anddischarge ports for supplying material to said projections, theapertured portion of said discharge controlling element being normallydisposed flush against the under side of said cap to close saidapertures whereby when said cap is flexed by rubbing the same againstl asurface, portions of said cap will be spaced from said dischargecontrolling element to permit discharge of material from the device.

Y 6. In an applicator, a hollow open ended head, a container in the openend of said posed at least flush with the open end of said head, acapconstructed of eompressble material Covering the open ends of said headand said container and 'having discharge ports extending therethrough, aheating unit mounted Within said hea-d `for heating said container, anda detachable retaining-ring engaging the end of said head and having aHangefor pressing the marginal -edge yof said cap against the open endsof said head -and container to form @liquid-tight seal.

In testimony whereof I aihx my signature.

EMMET M ROBINSON.

